Tent



Aug. 18, 1931. Q s. c. FORRESTER Q ,8

TENT

Filed Feb. 21, 1929' z'sn' et's-sheex 1 Aug. 18, 1931.

S. C. FORRESTER TENT Filed Feb. 21, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Aug. 18, 1931 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE SAMUEL C. FORBESTER, OF ATLANTA, GEORGIA, ASSIGNOB TO FULTON BAG & COTTON MILLS, A/ CORPORATION OF GEORGIA TENT Application filed February 21, 1929. Serial No. 341,800.

Generically this invention relates to tents, but it is more especially directed to the supportin frame structure for the type known as pole ess umbrella tents.

I An important object of this invention is the provision of what might be termed, a center poleless foldable supporting frame structure for a tent of this character.

One of the principal objects of this invention is the provision of a skeleton frame for supporting a tent cover, including means for expeditiously efl'ecting its lateral and vertical expansion to stretch and render taut the said covering supported thereby, and to elimu; inate the old-fashioned center pole, leaving every inch of space inside the tent covering unobstructed and usable.

Another object of this invention is the provision of a tent supporting structure of go this character comprising a spider-like roof or top frame formed at the lower edges with longitudinal side bars, each of said bars comprising telescopic sections, telescopic standards adapted to support said spider-like structure, and manually operable means for locking each of said side bars and supporting standards in any desired position of longitudinal and vertical adjustment, respectively.

A still further object of this invention is 80 the provision of a collapsible tent frame of this character comprising detachable and foldable sections to effect the expeditious erection of the frame, and to enable, when not in use, its being packed into a small compass. ,5 With these and other objects in view,

which will become apparent as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the construction, combination and arrangement of parts, hereinafter more fully described and claimed, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which like characters of reference indicate like parts throughout the several figures, of which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the improved frame operatively erected, with the tent cover in fragmentary section;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary elevation of the cap plate, spider arm and coupling member;

60 Fig. 3 is a fragmentary elevation of one of the supporting standards and knuckle joint member;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary longitudinal section of one of the supporting standards and knuckle joint members;

Fig. 5 is an elevation of the knuckle joint member and a portion of supporting standard showing pin 38 in position;

Fig. 6 is a cross section of the knuckle olnt member shown in Figs; 4 and 5;

Fig. 7 is a bottom planWiew of the cap member;

Fig. 8 is a cross section of the cap member shown in Fig. 2; and

Fig. 9 is a fragmentarylongitudinal section ofthe side bar sections 19 and 20 with the thumb screw elevation.

The tent frame structures of this general type with which I am familiar have'.proven unsatisfactory by reason of their not being readily adjustable to tighten the tent covering over the supporting frame, the com onent parts not being sufficiently folda 1e and detachable to permit packing into a com-' compact form when not in use and readily transportable from place to place, too bunglesome to handle and expensive to manufacture, and requiring a perpendicular rod, or pole, with arms radiating to the four corners to support the frame, thus interfering with overhead space, and it was to overcome such deficiencies, and to provide a tent structure comprising a skeleton roof supporting frame including expansible side bars having means for readily locking the said bars in any desired adjusted position, and expansible standards for supporting the skeleton frame, each standard comprising telescopic sections having similar means for locking the sections in any desired expanded or retracted position, and means for erecting each of the standards in a relaxed position by use of a knuckle joint, which when straightened out, automatically stretches the tent cover taut, adjustably effect and maintain the covering uniformly taut over said frame in accordance with varying climatic conditions, that I designed the structure forming the subject matter of this invention.

In the illustrated embodiment characterizing this invention there is shown a tent cover supporting frame A, comprising a skeleton roof supporting frame B, mounted on and supported by standards C.

The skeleton frame B comprises a. cap plate or umbrella-like member 5 formed on its upper surface with a perpendicular lug 6, and on its under surface with downwardly and outwardly projecting spider-like ri ht angular bifurcated arms 7, extending slightly beyond the circumferential edge of said memer 5, each of said arms adapted to receive the flattened or reduced end 8 of the respective spider arms 9 rotatably secured therein by rivet or bolt 10 extending through registered openings 11 and 12 in said arms 7 and 9, respectively. It will thus be seen that the arms 9 are hingedly secured to said cap plate and may be folded into parallelism with each other when not in use, likewise a projection 5' extends downwardly from cap 5 to facilitate erection of frame by means of any one of the four standards, and to provide a means for supporting lantern or other light inside enclosure at night.

A substantially tubular coupling member 13 is formed with a reduced upper end 14 projecting at an angle from the main body of the member and is adapted for insertion in the lower end of one of the arms 9 and secured therein by a rivet or pin 15. The lower end of member 13 terminates in a reduced portion 16 adapted for insertion in the upper end of one of the supporting standards C for a purpose hereinafter more fully appearing.

The said coupling member 13 is formed intermediate its length, in the present instance, at points spaced from its lower end,

with substantially laterally extending lugs' 17 at right angles with respect to each other, but at such an angle that when they are brought to a horizontal plane the reduced end portion 16 will project downwardly and outwardly at an angle corresponding to that of the supporting standard G into the upper end of which it is adapted to be inserted, as clearly shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings. The coupling member 13 is also formed on its upper surface intermediate the lugs 17, with an upwardly curved lug 18 adapted to extend through an eyelet or other fastening means in the tent cover D as will be understood without further explanation, serving as a means of support for guy rope when needed.

In orderto space and support the arms 9 n proper position, and to add rigidity to the frame, a side bar E is adapted to interconnect the coupling 13, in the present imstance, on each of the four sides of the tent. The side bars E are formed with the telescopic sections 19 and 20, respectively. The ends of the bar E are adapted to engage lugs 17 of the respective couplings 13, and in order to lock or maintain the sections 19 and 20 in any desired adjusted position with respect to each other, a rojection or thickened portion 21 is forme on the inner end of section 20 provided with a threaded openin 22 extending through said projection to t e inner surface of section 20, and a. threaded thumb screw 23 is adapted to engage said opening 22 and contact the telescoping end of section %)9 to rigidly unite said sections into a rigid ar E.

Each of the supporting standards C comprises section 24 adapted to telescopically receive one end of the section 25 which is maintained at any desired adjusted position by thumb screw 23 mounted in the end of section 24 similar to section 21, and as its operation with respect to standard C is identical with that of side bar E, further explanation is thought to be unnecessary.

A knucklejoint or hinge member F is in serted in the section 25 at a point substantially central of standard 0, comprising the hinged sections 26 and 27, respectively, the lower end of the section 26 is adapted to be inserted in section 25 and secured therein byrivet 28, its upper end terminating in bifurcated jaws 29 extendin on one side upwardly to form the wi ening portions 30,

said portions being formed with apertures 31 offset from the axis of section 25. The sec-:

tion 27 is formed with a sleeve portion 32 adapted to receive the lower end of one section 25 and is cut out to form bifurcated jaws 33 adapted to embrace jaws 29 and formed with an opening adapted to register with apertures 31 toreceive pivot pin 34 and the lower end terminating in a secured portion 35 constituting a stop to align the section 25. This hinged knuckle joint enables the sections 24 and 25 to be folded into parallelism;-

A stopper 42 is inserted in the lower end of.

each of the supporting standards C to prevent the bottom of the standard from wearing a hole in floor of the tent cover, and where conditions may require the end of the standard to be closed.

From the above description it is apparent that I have designed a tent structure of great adaptability, capable of being easily erected or dismantled, and embodying means for expeditiously effecting tightening or loosening of the tent cover on the frame under all conditions, by means of expansible side bars and supporting standards, capable of being folded into compact form, providing an absolutely rigid structure without obstructing antoo inch of space from bottom to top, manufacturable at a low cost and efiicient for the purposes intended.

Although in practice I have found that the form of my invention illustrated in the I accompanying drawings and referred to in the above description as the preferred embodiment, is the most efiicient and practical,

i I desire protected by Letters Patent is as set forth in the following claims 1. The combination with a collapsible skeleton tent frame and a cover overlying the frame, said frame including a top section comprising a cap plate, a series of radially extending arms connected to said cap plate and relatively movable with respect thereto, a coupling element secured to the free extremity of each arm, a plurality of telescopic side bars engageable with the respective coupling members to interconnect the respective arms, whereby relative movement of the arms and side bars with respect to the cap plate and expansion and contraction of said top section is effected, and telescopic supporting standards for said top section.

2. The combination with a collapsible skeleton tent frame and a cover overlying the frame, said frame including a pyramidal top section, comprising a cap plate, a series of radially and diagonally extending arms connected to the cap plate and relatively movable with respect thereto, a coupling member partially insertable in and fixedly secured to the free end of each arm, said member being formed with laterally extending projections, a plurality of telescopic side bars, the ends of each side bar being engageable with a projection of the respective coupling members, and means for securing the telescopic sections in adjusted position, whereby relative adjustment of the side bars and arms with respect to said cap plate is eli'ected thereby efiecting adjustment of the frame to the cover, and telescopic and foldable supporting standards for said top section.

3. The combination with a collapsible skeleton tent frame having a cover overlying the frame, said frame comprising a pyramidal top section including a cap plate and arm members associated therewith, a coupling member comprising a body section terminating at its en s in reduced portions, one of said portions extending at an angle with respect to said body and adapted to'be received in and secured to the free end of said arm, said body being formed with laterally extending lugs disposed at right angles with respect to each other, and an outwardly extending lug adapted to engage said cover, telescopic side bars engageable with the respective lateral lugs of the respective couplings to interconnect said arms, whereby relative movement of said side bars and arms with respect to said cap plate and-expansion. and contraction of said cover is effected, and sup-porting standards for said top section.

4. The combination with a collapsible skeleton tent frame, and a cover overlying the frame, said frame including a to section comprising a cap plate, a series 0 radially extending arms connected to said cap plate and relatively movable with respect thereto, a coupling element secured to the free extremity of each arm, a plurality of telescopic side bars engageable with the respective coupling members to interconnect the respective arms, and telescopic supporting standards for said top section, each of said standards having mounted intermediate its length a knuckle joint comprising tubular sections hingedly connected, one of said sections comprising a sleeve portion terminating at one end in a stop member, and means for locking said sections in extending position, whereby relative movement of the arms and side bars with respect to the cap plate and expansion and contraction of said top section is effected and folding of said frame when not in use likewise eflected.

5. The combination with a skeletonized tent frame and a cover overlying the frame, said frame including a pyramidal top section comprising a cap member, a plurality of radiating diagonally disposed arms connected to said cap member, telescopically adjustable longitudinal side bars, a plurality of coupling members, each of said members comprising a main body section terminating at its upper end in a reduced portion extending therefrom at an angle for insertion in the free end of one of the radiating arms, said body terminating at its opposite end in a similar reduced portion, and formed with laterally extending lugs disposed at right angles with respect to each other, each adapted to engage one end of a respective side bar, telescopic supporting standards for said top section, the upper end of each standard adapted to receive a reduced portion of a respective coupling member, each of. said standards having mounted intermediate its length a knuckle joint comprising hinged sections, one of said sections being formed with a sleeve portion terminating in a stop member, and means for lockin said sections in extended position, where y relative movement of the arms and side bars with respect to the cap plate and expansion and contraction of said top section and cover is effected.

6. In combination, a tent, a collapsible supporting frame comprising a top section ineluding anumbrclla-like cap member having an upstanding projection, an integral depending eye member and a series of radially projecting bifurcatlngnrms extending beyond the circumferential edge of said cap member, a radial diagonally extending hollow arm loosely connected to each of said bifurcated arms, a plurality of coupling members, each having a main body portion terminating at opposite ends in reduced portions, one of said portions projecting at an angle with respect to said body and adapted to be fixedly received by the free end of-a respective diagonal arm, said body being formed with laterally extending lugs disposedat right angles with respect to each other, and on its outward surface with an additional projection, a plurality of telescopic hollow side bars, the opposite ends of each bar adapted to receive one of the lateral lugs of the respective coupling members, telescopic supporting standards, the upper end of each standard adapted to receive the free reduced portion of a respective coupling member, means in connection with each of said radial arms and each of said supporting standards for securing the telescopic sections in position, each of the supporting standards having mounted intermediate its length a knuckle joint comprisipgtubular sections hingedly connected, one'of said sections comprising a sleeve portion and terminating at one end in a curved stop member, and means for locking said sections in extended position, whereby a collapsible structure and expansible top section with its components relatively movable with respect to each other is effected.

SAMUEL C. FORRE STER. 

